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Riley Keough has opened up about the emotional reaction she had to Austin Butler’s masterful, award-winning performance as her grandfather Elvis Presley.
The Presley family has been vocal in their support of the 2022 film Elvis, a biopic directed by Baz Luhrmann about the life and career of the widely beloved King of Rock and Roll.
Riley, who is currently promoting her new Amazon Prime Video TV series Daisy Jones & the Six, was asked how she felt after watching the 31-year-old’s portrayal of her late relative on the big screen.
During an appearance on Live with Kelly and Ryan in the US, the 33-year-old said that she thought Austin was ‘outstanding and incredible’ in the role.
‘I couldn’t have imagined anyone being able to pull off what he did in terms of embodying my grandfather. It was really shocking and emotional and it totally blew me away,’ she said.
When Riley first watched Elvis, she hadn’t actually met Austin in person, but did reach out to the actor to express her admiration for him.
Riley was left ‘in awe’ of Austin’s performance (Picture: Rex/AP)
‘I’d never met him, but I texted him the minute I got out of the theatre. I have [met him] now, but at the time when I saw it I hadn’t met him yet and I just was so overwhelmed. I was just so in awe of what he did that I sent him a text,’ she said.
The actress continued: ‘I think he said something along the lines of, “That means so much to me that you and your family feel that way.”
Austin has received widrespread acclaim for his performance (Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Riley recently suffered the loss of her mother (Picture: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
‘I can’t remember, but I was so… I was in tears for like a week because of the film but also because of his performance.’
Last month, Riley suffered the loss of her mother Lisa Marie Presley, the only child of Elvis and Priscilla Presley.
Lisa Marie died at the age of 54 after suffering cardiac arrest.
Riley paid tribute to her late mother by sharing a black-and-white photo of them together on social media, alongside a red heart in the caption.
Austin also released a statement, referencing Lisa Marie’s children as mother as he wrote: ‘My heart is completely shattered for Riley, Finley, Harper and Priscilla at the tragic and unexpected loss of Lisa Marie.
‘I am eternally grateful for the time I was lucky enough to be near her bright light and will forever cherish the quiet moments we shared. Her warmth, her love and her authenticity will always be remembered.’
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MORE : Elvis actor Austin Butler honours Lisa Marie Presley after ‘bittersweet’ Bafta win
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‘I couldn’t have imagined anyone being able to pull off what he did,’ she said.
